Ploughed Fields -Update.

Thank you to  Jay for the prompt. A while a go I posted about some door mats I had picked up from Lidl and thought they would make ideal ploughed fields.

Here are a few pictures of them cut up. No other work done.the base on the fields are about 2mm and the ridges 3-4mm.

The figures are blacktree and mounted on 2mm bases. The fields work well with 20mm and I don’t see a reason why they would not work with 15mm. I have placed against a doormat corn field. As you can see it hides the nasty rubber base easily.

I managed to get 5 fields per mat and at 99p a mat, a bargain. They are thin, but this makes them flexible and the backing means they do not move once placed. They may benefit from some dry brushing but that will have to be another day.

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They are currently back in the shop but I have not seen the price.

Wars of the Roses and Lion Rampant

Sat in my collection is a large amount of units for the War of the Roses era. Lockdown has meant reduced opportunities for figure gaming and made me realise that the possibilities of getting large groups together to play will/maybe a while away. Therefore I decided to review the possibility of scaling down my normal engagements to fit within the parameters of Lion Rampant.

Most units will fit within the normal LR unit structure with one exception, artillery. While this may not have formed a main part of the typical field force it did appear albeit in limited numbers.

These are my rules for Artillery in LR.
• Use 1 artillery model plus 4 crew. Reduction in crew impacts effectiveness of unit in a different way to any other unit on the table, please see below.
• May be operated so long as 1 crewman is still alive.
• Points cost: Light 4 points, Med 5 points and Heavy 6 points.
• Range: Light 24”, Medium 36” and Heavy 48”
• Shoot: 7+. Option, roll a double 1 and gun explodes!
• Shoot Value: To determine the number of possible hits roll a D4 for light, D8 for Med and D12 for Heavy. The result is the number of possible hits. This number of D6 are then rolled with a shoot Value of 3+ adjust due scores by -1 if target is more than 12” away. Target armour is reduced to 1 although hard cover adds +1 soft cover gives no benefit.
• Reload action: Light =8+ Med 9+ and Heavy 10+. After a successful Shoot action, the artillery may not be fired again until a successful Reload action(I place a gunpowder barrel beside until reloaded) has taken place. This is carried out as a normal ordered activation. I do apply -1 per lost crew. Therefore, a light gun with only 1 crew member remaining will only reload on a 11 and med on a 12! This also means that a heavy would require a 13! This is when a leader (Not attached permanently to a unit in my games) can inspire a unit by adding a +1 motivation to any units within 6” if unattached or only to a single unit to which it is attached.
• May not move during the game and must be deployed in the player’s deployment zone but has a 180 degree of fire.
• If contacted, shot at, and for Courage tests, the crew count as a normal 6 fig unit except when down to 2 crew figures when it is then half strength.
• The crew must maintain cohesion within 1″ of gun.
• Armour 1.
• Upgrade to expert gunners @2pt- instead of D4, D8 or D12s for no. of potential hits use DAV, 2DAV-2 and 2DAV. +1 to reloads dice and +1 shoot action
• Upgrade with a Mantlet @1pt– Armour 3 from shooting only.

Robert the Bruce ?

Please find below pictures of my latest commander for the Scottish Independence Wars.

I wanted something different so, I hope I have got this correct……. in 1304 Robert de Brus died. He was Lord of Annandale. Therefore I have assumed that the title went to his son, known to us as Robert the Bruce (Earl of Carrick), making him the 7th Lord of Anandale.

In 1306 he became King Robert I of Scotland and therefore I believe his titles, Lord of Anandale and Earl of Carrick passed to the crown. Circa 1312 he awarded the title Earl of Carrick to his younger brother, Edward.

I apologise to all history buffs out there. I know my vignette is wrong. The figure of Robert is wearing a crown so he should be wearing the Scottish Royal livery and not that of Lord of Anandale. He is killing Henry de Bohun at Barrockburn 1314. The axe is embedded in Henry’s helm. I don’t believe this happened, although Robert was angry that his blow on Henry damaged his axe shaft. I just took it a stage further.

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It could be used as his father until 1304 or himself pre 1306 but then the crown and Henry are wrong.

Robert is an Ebob figure, his assistant is an old glory figure and Bohun and his horse are Foundry. Robert and Henry’s shield designs were just printed and glued on to the shields as I am not good at detail.

You never know, after a few games I may repaint Robert in the correct livery if he is not performing.

WILLIAM WALLACE – Off to Falkirk

Here is my latest commander for the Scottish during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Wallace and Andrew Moray (still on the to do list) defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. He was defeated a year later at the Battle of Falkirk. Although he escaped from the field, in August 1305, Wallace was captured near Glasgow. He was handed over to Edward I, tried for high treason (not sure how fair the trial was) found guilty (not a surprise to most) to which the sentence was to be hanged, drawn and quartered.

He was a knight so no wold in sight.

Wallace is a Ebob figure while his assistant is an Old Glory figure. The monks are from Blacktree. As with all commanders, the flags are home made, thanks to ms paint. The sign post is pure theatrical.

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Earl of Lennox

Mormaer (Scottish equivalent of an Earl) Maol Choluim II (Malcolm) of Lennox was loyal to Robert the Bruce.

Another Scottish commander for my Flower of Chivalry collection for the Scottish Wars of Independence. MaelColuim/Malcolm, 5th Earl of Lennox was born circa 1280 and was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill 1333.

At Falkirk in 1298 his Father, Malcolm I was commander of the Scottish nobles. Some sources suggest they were driven from the field too easily.

The command figure will do for either of the Malcoms.

Malcolm II had earlier been captured in 1303 by the English and held hostage by Edward I although back in Scotland 1304 and attended King Robert’s coronation in 1306.

At Bannockburn he commanded his troops supporting Sir Edward Bruce’s Battle.

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The Earl is a Foundry figure while his assistant is an Old Glory figure.

Medieval -Lord Keith

Sir Robert Keith (died 11 August 1332) was a knight, diplomat, and held the hereditary title Marischal of Scotland. He commanded the Scottish Cavalry at the battle of Bannockburn.

Here is one of the recent Generals I am painting for the Scottish Wars. I will be using a slightly modified version of Flower of Chivalry.

The amendment I am planning is to allow the issuing of agressiveness levels to each unit rather than each battle. I hope to trial this, once we can get together after lockdown.

Aggressiveness affects a unit’s Battlelust which in turn affects what orders can be issued, morale and melee.

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Lord Keith in a Foundry figure while his attendant is an Old Glory figure.

Scottish Wars – Edward I

Last night I finished this figure. It is an ebob figure. Nicely detailed and anatomically correct, so a little thinner and taller than old glory or foundry.

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Lion Rampant – Army Selection

Just thought I would post a list of all unit options available for Lion Rampant I have also attached the Excel version to allow you to copy and paste into a army list for games.

 

Here is the link to the EXCEL version

Lion Rampant Master list and test game

I have not included any of our house variations but would suggest considering for additional cost of 1 pt allowing large unit (18 figure) foot units, as per Rebels and Patriots. These are originally 12 strong units not allowed for 6 strong foot units.

Lion Rampant – First Game Review

When I sat down to write about the first game I had played of Lion Rampant I struggled about where to start and what to say.

I thought about it and looked at the photos I took and they tell the story.

I was so engaged in the game I forgot to take many photos and when I thought back I remembered why, the game was a real rollercoaster. This is why.

 

Taff came over to play, neither of us had played the rules before although we had both owned a copy.

I had pulled together a couple of armies from my Scottish Wars of Independence Armies

They were bigger than recommended but what the hell.

I tried to lay out some generic terrain that gave neither side an advantage. We wanted a fair playtest.

So off we set with our roster and 12 dice each………..

The first couple of turns we were both unlucky and only managed to move a few units. I really got into trying to evaluate the risk of which order to action the units in  comparing need with ease.

Two units on the right, Men @ arms manoeuvre around the broken ground to run down this rabble in front. A unit of mounted sgts on the left support

Foot Yeoman of the English supported by the Commanders unit advance to secure/deny the ford to the Scots

Scottish Fierce Foot advance into the Rough terrain Their skills of Ferocious,Wild Charge,CounterCharge(Ft),Fleet Footed make or should I say made them lethal.

The Scots moved up all along the river bank. this would force me into fighting in the river but we were English so no issues our knights would carry them away!

Another great unit, no not the Men @ Arms but the Bidowers engaged the knights. This was a defining moment as I saw them inflict a casualty and realised that while the scottish army were nothing much in the open, deployed in the correct terrain they were deadly. Especially with Hard to Target, Skirmish,Evade,Fleet Footed. They drew me in move after move!

English xbows move up and open fire. They killed one but to no effect.

I have no more photos as we got so ingrossed with the game.

The Scottish saw of the English knights who charged acoss the stream and suffered. Some terrible dice rolls by me didi not help (at one point I rolled 12 dice needing 3+ and scored no hits).

The scots did make it across the ford and engaged the xbows and foot and after a few turns pushing backwards and forwards they finally carried the day. I had a units of archers on the left who never caused a casualty all night.

Finally both leaders found a gap in the lines and engaged in the middle of the field, no challenge but we both discussed the merits of issuing one but decided not to.

It took a couple of rounds of fighting and charging and counter charging but they were finally destroyed. the army check morale and they started to fail and flee one after another.

The game lasted 3 hours and we both agreed it was a great nights gaming. We would definately play it again.

I think we will add a few house rules should as:

• no closer to friendly units than 1″ not the normal 3″
• Maybe allow large units as per Rebels and Patriots
• Different challenge proceedure as per earlier post
• Allow removal of Schiltron for foot -1pt

I say a BIG YES to Lion Rampant

All the figures are from my collection, mainly Old Glory, Foundry,Ebob and Blacktree.

Lion Rampant

Over the last few months I have been looking at a number of changes in how I wargame. Most of my collections are large. Unfortunately over the last few months many of my regular wargame buddies are unavailable due to moving out of the area or work impacting upon availability. So the last few games have been smaller than normal. It made me think about skirmish style gaming but I still wanted the ability to play larger games, if and when we all can get together again.

Recently I picked up a number of Osprey rules sets. Some look good and not so sure of but have onky had a quick scan of them.

Last night I met up with a gamer from Exmouth and we started to discuss Lion Rampant. They were a set of rules he had but again had never played so we decided to have a walk through to see if they may offer what we want.

Overall the rules seem to be ok and while they appear simple they may take a while to master. The easy of play will allow addition of house rules if and when needed to reflect a particlar era.

We got discussing 2 areas that didn’t feel right.

• Challenges – like the idea but the process of rolling 3 dice and the highest number of 5 or 6s win. It appears to take no consideration of armour etc. We set about trying a number of option to give what we think would be a more reflective result. We came up with the following:

3 dice as original

3 rounds and the leader with the most hits on them at the end is dead

To hit a general, roll 3 dice needing to roll as if attacking

Any leader hit rolls armour rating or less to save each hit

Leader who has most hits inflicted upon them each round gets a -1 to attack rolls(accumalative) up to needing 6s

• The other thing that jumped out was that all foot units not knights or serfs all have the skill of schiltron. I think I allow certain foot not to have this ability i.e. my English spears fighting their Scottish equivalents at Stirling.

We are planning to try the rules out with figures on the table in a few weeks time.